Fingal Head Lighthouse
Even though the Fingal Head light tower is not high and it is built on a low headland the lighthouse is effective as it is built on one of the most easterly points of Australia with plenty of deep water offshore.
History
The Fingal Head Lighthouse was erected in 1872 of stone, and painted white, the tower had a fixed white light of 1,000 candelas.
Even though the light tower is not high and it is built on a low headland the light is effective as it is built on one of the most easterly points of Australia with plenty of deep water offshore.
continued below …
Image: Roxford Bree
Photograph: Ian Clifford
Photograph: Ian Clifford
Photograph: Ian Clifford
Photograph: Ian Clifford
Photograph: Ian Clifford
© All images are copyright of their respective photographers and are not to be used without permission.
| Title | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|
Point Danger | 3 Tweed Terrace, Coolangatta QLD 4225, Australia | Point Danger |
Fingal Head | 1B Lighthouse Parade, Fingal Head NSW 2487, Australia | Fingal Head |
Cape Byron | Cape Byron Walking Track, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia | Cape Byron |
continued from above …
The original kerosene wick burner was converted to automatic acetylene operation in 1920 with an output of 1,500 candelas and altered to group flashing. The one keeper was withdrawn at this time.
There is no record of the opening of this light considered so insignificant that apparently the first keeper did not think the matter of sufficient importance to take a record of the official opening.
Keepers
We need your help in compiling a list of keepers for this lighthouse. If you have any information then send it to keeper@lighthouses.org.au.
Please include this lighthouse’s name, the keepers full name and what years they were keepers. Also include the same information for any other lights they were on.
Technical Details
| First Exhibited | 1872 |
| Current Tower | 1872 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | Lat. 28°12'1.11"S Long. 153°34'15.93"E |
| Original Optic | Chance Bros 4th order fixed |
| Current Optic | Vega FA-251 |
| Automated | 1920 |
| Demanned | 1920 |
| Construction | Masonry |
| Height | 7 m |
| Elevation | 24 m |
| Range | White 17 NM Red 14 NM |
| Character | Fl. 5s |
| Intensity | White 37,000 cd; Red 9,000 cd |
| Light Source | 12v 75 watt quartz halogen lamp |
| Power Source | Mains Electricity, Battery Standby |
| Operator | NSW Roads and Maritime Services |
| Custodian | NSW Crown Lands |
| Notes |
NB: Information is historical data and is not for navigational purposes.
Access
The Fingal Head Lighthouse is located on the southern head of the Tweed River, which divides New South Wales and Queensland.
Tours
No
Accommodation
No
Museum
No
Friends Group
No
Associated Lighthouses
Links
Fingal Head by Grant Maizels 
Sources
- Cyril Curtain for Photographs
- Ian Clifford for Photographs & Technical Data
- Averil Legg
- From Dusk Till Dawn by Gordon Reid
- Mary Shelley Clark and Jack Clark
- Sydney AFLOAT
- W. Lippingwell, Coastal Lighthouses of NSW, 1938